Mabuhay, Señor Sto.Niño!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

LAST Monday, I jumped on the first flight available for Cebu when I heard some distressing news that my mom was ill. By God’s grace and through the help of good friend Jackie in the travel industry, I made it.

Also, by God’s grace, when I got there, my mom was recovering. Thank you, Lord! I had a great interaction with her. She would respond with not only her eyes but full facial expression coupled with some audible words! I couldn’t thank the Lord enough for that blessing.

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The following day saw me again spending time with my mom. She was doing better with every passing minute. The doctors said that she was responding well to her medications. Lord, You are truly kind and merciful.

As far as Cebu is concerned, this week is filled with highlights because it is the Feast of the Sto. Nino de Cebu, the biggest festival in Cebu. Traffic was unbearable to most Cebuanos but their love for the Niño far exceeds all discomfort.

Cebuanos are fond of the Sto. Nino. Their devotion is filial, full of hope and trust and love.

The first day of the 9-day novena started January 5 and ends January 13. So I was there at the height when the fervor and excitement was accelerating. Every street had gold and red buntings. Every nook and corner had an altar with the image of the Sto. Niño.

It has been my practice, something like a Panaad, that I never miss a visit to the Niño whenever I am in Cebu. I was discouraged to go because there were too many people, too many thieves waiting for their prey, too many cars… it’s a mess, they all said. But now in this crucial moment when I had to appeal for my mom’s health, I did not see the reason why I should not make the effort.

So, last Wednesday, at six in the morning, I boarded a cab and went straight to the Basilica de Sto. Niño de Cebu. Even early on, traffic was heavy, as most roads were closed to traffic, but it was not punishing. It started to drizzle.

Apparently, this was the 5:30 a.m. mass. Masses are at an interval of 1.5 hours, starting at 5:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. The street which was to the main entrance of the church was closed to traffic and portable chairs were organized which were all taken.

As the church can never accommodate the growing number of people who come to hear mass in the Basilica, a pilgrim center was built within the church compound and, for the duration of the novenas, priests officiate mass in the open-air, theater-like structure.

I made my way up to the bleachers to catch a wider view of the throng of devotees. It was hair-raising. It was elbow to elbow and people did not budge, despite the shower stepping up into a downpour.

With the first mass done, I made my way to the front of the altar and I had a ringside seat (correction-stand, since there were no chairs in the open area). I situated myself between two people who had umbrellas and, when the lady in my right saw that I was drenched, she invited me to share her umbrella. She was an angel from heaven.

The 7 a.m. mass was awe-inspiring. There were so many priests officiating and the devotees were in sync with the Mass. When the song ‘Batobalani sa Gugma’ which means ‘Magnet of Love’ was sang, all hands, including those of the priests, were raised in the air when it came to the phrase: “KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA NGA KANIMO NANGILABA.

The Sto. Niño is a magnet of love and devotion, not only for Cebuanos, but for devotees all over the world.

Msgr. Dennis Odiver of the Sacred Heart Shrine in Cebu, who was the main celebrant of the mass, had a humorous homily that zeroed in on the Sto. Niño. He took excerpts from Rex Navarrete’s (a famous standup comedian based in the States) jokes that there was this Filipino child who newly migrated to the States. Their primary teacher told them to bring a Super Hero for their assignment. The following morning, the children started bringing out their superheroes. One had Superman and explained that he flies like a speeding bullet; another brought Spiderman because he can climb buildings; and all the other Superheroes they idolize.

When it was the turn of the Filipino child, he brought out the image of the Sto. Niño. His classmates were laughing at him and asked him what his superhero can do. He said my Super hero is the Sto. Niño. He can do all the things your superheroes can do and more because He can heal the sick; He can make the dead rise from their graves; He can drive out demons; He can do all the things your Superhero cannot do.

The kids were all amazed at the Sto. Niño, the superhero of the little boy. Indeed, the Sto.Niño can do all that and He answers all our cries of help because He is the Super hero who is truly available for any and all.
The love and devotion I saw in the Basilica that morning is what makes me truly believe that our faith is what saves the Filipino nation from all crises - natural, political, familial, personal.

Our faith makes us bow down in fervent prayer to appeal to a God Who was born on Christmas day who grew up the carry the cross for our sins so that we can be saved, as well as to help us carry the crosses that come into our lives and still emerge resilient.

He is the God Who showers graces into our hearts to listen to what is His will for us so that we can go through life with less paralyzing anxiety.

I was just one of the thousands who lifted up my prayer and my appeal to the Superhero Who has capacities far beyond anything human. We all have our problems - from financial difficulties, estranged relationships, illnesses, psychological, emotional, physical woes as well as petitions for dreams unmet or careers and transactions not consummated - and we lift them up because we believe that man alone is really nothing without His almighty and saving power.

The devotion to the Sto. Niño has reached far and wide. We have our own celebrations here in Negros and other parts of the Philippines.
Mabuhay, Sto. Niño!!! This is the battle cry with which they end each mass during the novena days.

Testimonials are thick about the miracles of the Sto. Niño and indeed we join them in saying, “Mabuhay, Sto. Niño!” because we too have been recipients of His kindness and mercy!